Article of repose for supporting the body of a person



April 15, 1958 A. LORENZ 2,830,650

- 8 ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON -Filed on. 25, 1953 v s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY W

'April 15, 1958 A. LORENZ 2,8

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Oct. 23, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [271?071 L or'enz April 15, 1958 A. LORENZ 2,830,650

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed 001:. 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- 0110r1 -Z07e712' Qz Zorne y.

Unite ARTICLE or REPosE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY or A PERSON The present invention relates to articles of furniture, and more particularly to an article of respose for supporting the body of a person, wherein the seat and backrest form movable members of a constrained linkage.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article of repose which may be readily manufactured at low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to improve on the articles of repose as now ordinarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational-view of a desk chair according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1, wherein however the movable members of the chair are in a reclined position,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a reclining seat adapted for use in a motor vehicle or the like.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away.

Referring now to Figs. 1-3, 11] generally indicates a support comprising a base 12 and a supporting member 14 connected therewith by a screw connection.

The lower end of a back-rest 16 is pivoted to the supporting member 14 at 18. The rear end portion of a seat 20 is pivoted to the back-rest 16 at 22 at a point above the plane of the pivot 18.

On each side of the chair the rear end of a top link 24 forming an arm-rest is pivoted to the back-rest 16 at 26. The front end of each top link 24 is pivoted at 28 to the upper end of a guiding link 30, the lower end of which is pivoted to the supporting member 14 at 32. As best shown in Fig. 3, the guiding links 38 are connected with each other by a transverse rod 34 carrying a roller 36. Each roller 36 is in engagement with the lower surface of the seat 20.

A return spring 38 connected with the seat 20 at 40 and with a projecting arm 42 of the supporting member 14 at 44 tends to urge the movable members of the chair into the sitting position shown in Fig. 1, wherein each guiding link 30 abuts against a stop 46 arranged on the supporting member 14.

. When the back-rest 16 is from the position shown in Fig. 1 into the reclined position shown in Fig. 2 against the action of the spring 38, the guiding means or rollers 36 carried by the transverse rod 34 arranged between the guiding links 30 cause a lifting of the front end portion of the seat 20. The exswung about its pivot 18.

Stats Patent ice treme reclined position is limited by an engagement of each guiding link 30 with a stop 48 arranged on the supporting element 14.

Fig. 4 illustrates a seat for use in a motor vehicle or other type of vehicle. Again the lower end of the backrest structure 116 is pivoted to a support at 118. On each side of the seat, the structure of the seat member 120 has an extension 150 rigid therewith. Said extension 150 projecting upwardly and rearwardly is pivoted to the back-rest 116 at 122 at a point above the pivotal connection 118 between the back-rest 116 and the support 110. The rear end portion of a top link or arm-rest 124 is pivoted to the back-rest 116 at 126. The front end portion of said top link 124 is pivoted to the upper end of a guiding link at 128. The lower end of said guiding link 130 is pivoted to the support 110 at 132. Said guiding link 130 has an extension 152 carrying a guiding means or roller 136 journalled at 154. The axis of said roller 136 is offset to a line drawn between the pivots 128 and 132 of the guiding link 130. The roller 136 is in shiftable engagement with the lower surface of the seat 120. A return spring 138 stretched between the support 110 and the seat 12% tends to urge the latter into the sitting position limited by an a'butment of the seat 120 against a stop 156 arranged on the support 110.

The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the seat is limited by an abutment of the back-rest 116 against a stop 158 carried by the support 110.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the rear end portion of the seat 220 is pivoted to the back-rest 216 at 222 at a point above the pivotal connection 218 between the back-rest 216 and the support 219. The top link 224 pivoted at its rear end portion to the backrest 216 at 226 is pivoted at its front end portion at 228 to a guiding member 230 being substantially in the shape of a bell-crank lever and being pivoted to the support 210 at 232. The guiding member 239 carries a guiding means or roller 236 being in shiftable engagement with the lower surface of the seat 220.

A leg-rest 260 swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat 220 at 262 is pivoted at 264 to one end of controlling link 266, the other end of which is pivoted at 268 to the lower arm of the guiding member 230.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by an engagement of the seat 220 with an abutting surface 2'78 on the support 210. The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by an abutment of the back-rest 216 against a stop 258 arranged on the support 210.

The leg-rest 260 and the controlling link 266 act as biasing means for returning the movable members of the chair from the reclined position into the sitting position.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the backrest 316 being pivoted to the support 310 at 318 is pivoted to the rear end portion of the seat 320 at 322. The guiding member 330 being swingably mounted on the support 310 at 332 is substantially in the shape of a bellcrank lever, the upper arm of which is pivoted to the front end portion of the arm rest 324 at 328. The rear end portion of said arm-rest 324 is pivoted to the backrest 316 at 326. The upper arm of the guiding member 330 has an extension 372 carrying a guiding means or roller 336, which is engaged with the lower surface of the seat 320.

An arm 374 swinga'bly mounted on the front end portion of the seat 320 at 3'76 is pivoted at 378 to an intermediate point of a controlling link 380. The lower end of said controlling link 381i is pivoted at 368 to the lower and of the guiding member 330. The upper and forwardly extending end of said controlling link 380 is pivoted at 382 to a leg-rest 36th A controlling bar 384 is pivoted at 386 to the lower portion of the leg-rest 360 and at 388 to the lower portion of the arm 374. The leg-rest 36% together with its controlling mechanism 374, 384) and 384 acts as biasing means for returning the movable members of the chair from the reclined position shown indash and dot lines into the sitting position shown in full lines.

The sitting position is limited by an abutment of the seat 320 against an abutting surface 370 of the support 310, and the extreme reclined position is limited by an abutment of the guiding member 330 against a stop 390 arranged on the support 310. v I

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, again the lower end of the back-rest 416 is pivoted to the sup port 410 at 418. The rear end portion of the seat 420 is pivoted to the back-rest 416 at 422 at a point above the pivotal connection 418 of the back-rest 416 with the support 41%. The rear end portion of the top link or arm-rest 424 is pivoted to the back-rest 416 at 426. The front end of said top link or arm-rest 424 is pivoted at 428 to a guiding link 430 swingably mounted on the support 410 at 432. According to this embodiment of Fig. 7, the movements of the seat 420 are coordinated with the movements of the guiding link 430 through the medium of a guiding means or link 492 pivoted to the guiding link 43% at 4% and pivoted to the seat 420 at 496.

The structure of the guiding link 430 includes a lower extension pivoted at 468 to one end of a controlling link 480. The other end of said controlling link 480 is pivoted at 4% to an arm 474. The upper end of said arm 474 is swingably mounted at 400 to a lug 402 arranged on the support 410. The lower end of said arm is pivoted at 488 to one end of a controlling bar 484. The other end of said controlling bar 484 is pivoted at 486 to a leg-rest 460 swingably mounted on the front end portion of the seat 420 at 462. p

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by an engagement of the seat 420 with abutting surface 470 on the support 410. The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by a stop 404 arranged on the support 410 having an abutting engagement with the back-rest 416.

v The leg-rest 46% and the controlling mechanism 474, 480, 484 connected therewith have the tendency to urge the movable members of the chair into the sitting position.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

For example each of the embodiments shown in the drawings could be provided with locking means for holding the movable members of the article in a pro-determined position.

What I claim is:

l. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a back-rest having a pivotal connection adjacent its lower end on said support and mounting said back-rest for pivotal movement into various reclined positions, a seat having a pivotal connection at its rear end on said back-rest and mountingsaid seat for movement into various inclined positions, the

. pivotai connection of said seat on said back-rest being spaced above the pivotal connection of said back-rest on said support whereby said seat is translated rearwardly and downwardly relative to said support in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, and means operatively connected between said back-rest and said seat for moving said seat into various inclined positions in response to movement of said backrest into various reclined positions, said means including a guiding link pivotally mounted on said support and having one portion extending above said seat, 9. connecting link extending at a location above said seat and having a pivotal connection at one end to said back-rest and at the other end to said one portion of said guiding link, and means operatively connected to said guiding link and operatively engaging said seat for eifecting coordinated movement of said seat into said various inclined positions in response to reclining movement of said backrest.

2. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a back-rest having a pivotal connection adjacent its lower end on said support and mounting said back-rest for pivotal movement from a substantially upright position into various reclined positions, a seat having a pivotal connection at its rear end on said back-rest and mounting said seat for movement from a substantially horizontal position into various inclined positions, the pivotal connection of said seat on said back-rest being spaced above the pivotal connection of said back-rest on said support whereby said seat is translated rearwardly and downwardly relative to said support in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, means operatively connected between said back-rest and said seat for moving said seat into various inclined positions in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, said means including a guiding link pivotally mounted on said support and having one portion extending above said seat, a connecting link extending at a location above said seat and having a pivotal connection at one end to said back-rest and at the other end to said one portion of said guiding link, and means operatively connected to said guiding link and operatively engaging said seat for effecting coordinated movement of said seat into said various inclined positions in response to reclining movement of said back-rest, and means operatively connected to said back-rest and seat and effective to bias said back-rest into said upright position and said seat into said horizontal position.

3. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a back-rest having a pivotal connection adjacent its lower end on said support and mounting said back-rest for pivotal movement into various reclined positions, a seat having a pivotal connection at its rear end on said back-rest and mounting said seat for movement into various inclined positions, the pivotal connection of said seat on said back-rest being spaced above the pivotal connection of said back-rest on said support whereby said seat is translated rearwardly and downwardly relative to said support in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, and means operatively connected between said back-rest and said seat for moving said seat into various inclined positions in response to movement of said back rest into various reclined positions, said means including a guiding link pivotally mounted on said support and having one portion extending above said seat, a connecting link extending at a location above said seat and having a pivotal connection at one end to said backrest and at the other end to said one portion of said guiding link, and means operatively connected to said guiding link and operatively engaging said seat for effecting coordinated movement of said seat into said various inclined positions in response to reclining movement of said back-rest, said last-named means including a roller carried by said guiding link and engaging the undersurface of said seat. a

4. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising'a'support, a back-rest having a pivotal connection adjacent its lower end on said support and mounting said back-rest for pivotal movement into various reclined positions, a seat having a pivotal connection at its rear end on said back-rest and mounting said seat for movement into various inclined positions, the pivotal connection of said seat on said back-rest being spaced above the pivotal connection of said back-rest on said support whereby said seat is translated rearwardly and downwardly relative to said support in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, and means operatively connected between said back-rest and said seat for moving said seat into various inclined positions in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, said means including a guiding link pivotally mounted on said support and having one portion extending above said seat, a connecting link extending at a location above said seat and having a pivotal connection at. one end to said back-rest and at the other end to said one portion of said guiding link, a roller on said guiding link and shiftably engaging the under-surface of said seat for effecting coordinated movement of said seat into said various inclined positions in response to reclining movement of said back-rest, and a spring operatively connected to said seat for urging said seat and back-rest in a sitting position.

5. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a back-rest having a pivotal coni nection adjacent its lower end on said support and mounting said back-rest for pivotal movement into various reclined positions, a seat having a pivotal connection at its rear end on said back-rest and mounting said seat for movement into various inclined positions, the pivotal connection of said seat on said back-rest being spaced above the pivotal connection of said back-rest on said support whereby said seat is translated rearwardly and downwardly relative to said support in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, means operatively connected between said back-rest and said seat for moving said seat into various inclined positions in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, said means including a guiding link pivotally mounted on said support and having one portion extending above said seat, a connecting link extending at a location above said seat and having a pivotal connection at one end to said back-rest and at the other end to said one portion of said guiding link, and means operatively connected to said guiding link and operatively engaging said seat for efiecting coordinated movement of said seat into said various inclined positions in response to reclining movement of said backrest, a leg-rest, and means operatively connected to said leg-rest and to said guiding link for extending and elevating said leg-rest in response to movement of said backrest into various reclined positions.

6. A reclining chair for supporting the body of a person comprising a support, a back-rest having a pivotal connection adjacent its lower end on said support and mounting said back-rest for pivotal movement into various reclined positions, a seat having a pivotal connection at its rear end on said back-rest and mounting said seat for movement into various inclined positions, the pivotal connection of said seat on said back-rest being spaced above the pivotal connection of said back-rest on said support whereby said seat is translated rearwardly and downwardly relative to said support in response to movement of said back-rest into various reclined positions, seatcontrol means operatively connected between said backrest and said seat for moving said seat into various inclined positions in response to movement of said backrest into various reclined positions, said seat-control means including a guiding link pivotally mounted on said support and having one portion extending above said seat, a connecting link extending at a location above said seat and having a pivotal connection at one end to said back-rest and at the other end to said one portion of said guiding link, and means operatively connected to said guiding link and operatively engaging said seat for eiiecting coordinated movement of said seat into said various inclined positions in response to reclining movement of said back-rest, a leg-rest pivotally mounted on the front end of said seat, and means operatively connected to said leg-rest and actuated by said seat-control means for moving said leg-rest to various elevated positions in response to reclining movement of said back-rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 333,052 Brooks Dec. 22, 1885 967,665 Piche Aug. 16, 1910 2,520,094 Hand Aug. 22, 1950 2,521,283 Cameron Sept. 5, 1950 2,579,502 Lorenz Dec. 25, 1951 

